Sounds and sensational designs
FASHION, like music, is a form of creative expression. It was fitting then that the 18th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival started with a clothing extravaganza: the Fashion and All That Jazz gala dinner at the Ballroom inside the Cape Town International Convention Centre yesterday. As the name suggests, the event brought sounds and sensational designs together. There was a strong emphasis on not only showcasing South African brands, but wearing them. Wayne van der Rheede, special projects manager at Wear SA, which is involved in the gala dinner, let us in on the evening.
Who are you looking forward to watching at the Cape Town International Jazz Fest?
This is probably the most socially conscious line-up we have put together. Judging from the feedback, it’s been well received.
When we announced The Internet would be in the line-up, Twitter went crazy, we had something like 117 000 tweets in the first few hours. Andra Day and Kamasi Washington have also drawn interest, and our local artists like Judith Sephuma and The Rudimentals.
Fashion and All That Jazz was sponsored by Wear SA – tell us more
Wear SA is a collection of locally designed and made labels and we used the gala dinner to showcase the incredible young design talent we have in this country and as evidence we can make garments here of excellent quality and at competitive prices and are design-led.
How different was the Fashion and All That Jazz Gala Dinner this year?
This year’s fashion show was more entertainment focused, a show in its own right. There were dancers, lighting, AV and incredible locally designed and made outfits.
There also awards for the most stylish man and woman and, for the first time, a most stylish couple award. What did guests need to do to qualify?
Wear something designed and made in South Africa – it’s about promoting local labels. DESIGNERS for 2017 Fashion and all That Jazz Gala Dinner: Here are the proudly local designers who participated in this year’s glittering extravaganza.
NVMe Bikini. Each year the dinner showcases an emerging designer and this year, twins Roxanne and Simone van Rooyen are the designers behind this crocheted swimwear range.
Democracy of Denim is the brainchild of young designer Tamsyn Johannisen, whose range explores multiple stylish uses for denim, which started out as a utilitarian fabric but is now iconic with everyone wearing it – hence the name.
Blue Collar White Collar, which is designed by Paul van der Spuy.
Streetwear brand, Magents, from design duo Didier and Tey will be showcasing their work. This year, there was an androgynous feel in the men’s knitwear as more designers are embracing gender fluidity in their collections, mimicking the shift in fashion which calls for an acceptance of style without boundaries. At the time of the gala dinner, Magents had opened its fourth store in Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal, which is proof that the demand for SA fashion is there.
Then last but not least, a new brand that launched under the Wear SA store in 1994. This is also a young, casual clothing brand with street cred from the Wear SA stable.